"While we typically do not make a practice of using animal products in our wines, we may, on occasion, resort to the use of egg whites (on a very small scale) to reduce excessive or harsh tannins. We do our best to manage tannin pick up in the wines during fermentation but, every once in a while, a wine is too big, too tannic or too drying to fit the our profile."

Company email (March 2012):
[Same as the Dec 2011 response, below]

Company email (December 2011):
"I'm happy to inform you that our entire line, within the Domaine Ste. Michelle label, are vegan. Domaine Ste. Michelle does not use fining agents and riddling aids that are derived from animals. The gentle press cycles used for Washington State's grapes yields wine that has crisp acidity, delicate fruit forward aroma and light colors without any brown hues. Therefore, we do not need to use fining agents that are derived from proteins (gelatine, isinglass, casein, egg whites, chitins), polysaccharides (alginates, gum arabic), carbons (activated charcoal), and tannins .

Also, our dosage is created without the use of honey, making the entire line of Domaine Ste. Michelle products vegan."